Monday, June 17, 2013

My name is Callie Griffin and I am the Beef Research Support
intern working under Sarah Thorson, the Beef Education Manager, this summer. Growing up on a cow/ calf operation in Eastern
Montana, I acquired a tremendous amount of interest and passion for the beef
industry and agriculture.I am majoring
in Animal Science at Montana State University and hope that this internship
will help guide me toward the career path that is right for me.This summer, I am going to be working with
progeny test herds to help gather information.I am also going to be taking pictures and doing some linear scoring on
beef bulls.

I recently got the opportunity to go to Wisconsin for two
weeks to attend the employee training session.I met so many unique individuals and had an amazing time.It was refreshing to see so many people my
age with that much drive and interest in agriculture.My knowledge was tested and I got to answer a
lot of questions that they had about the beef industry – hopefully I’ll get
some of them out to Montana sometime! As I’m sure you already realized, my
emphasis is on beef cattle!I had never
seen so many dairy cows in my life and no one believed me when I said that I had
never set foot on a dairy.Needless to
say, I learned a lot during the first few days of the training class.The advancements that have been made in dairy
genetics are to be admired.I can’t help
but look forward to the advancements that will be made in my lifetime within
the dairy and beef industries.

I enjoyed the diversity the training course had to
offer.The other trainees and I learned
about everything from marketing and the goal of the company to synchronization
protocols.I feel that I left Shawano
with a better overall understanding of everything Genex has to offer.I also enjoyed the A.I. training.My classmates had a pretty good time teasing
me about my height – the stool and I became pretty close over those few days!I guess I never realized how big some of those
dairy cows are!It was great to see
everyone get so much more comfortable with their technique each day.

I feel so fortunate to have been able to meet so many terrific
people and learn so much about Genex and CRI.I am excited to see where all of my classmates are in 10 years and will
always remember my experience in Shawano.Being back in Montana, I hope that I will be able to use some of the
knowledge I gained at the training to become a successful intern!

Author Callie Griffin is our Beef Research Support intern this summer.She will be beginning her junior year at Montana State University in the fall and expects to graduate in the spring of 2015 with a degree in Animal Science and minor in Agricultural Business.She grew up on a ranch in Eastern Montana where her family raises Simmental/ Angus cattle and grows alfalfa and corn.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Artificial Insemination – Not As Easy As They Make It Look!

As a kid, I used to watch our “technician”, Orville, quickly
and easily breed cows. Actually, I
admired him. At a time when other little
girls dreamed of growing up to be princesses, I wanted to be Orville! I wasn’t
exactly sure what he did, but I observed him doing his job efficiently
and effectively. He came into our barn, discussed
what was happening in our community, opened the breeder box, read my father’s
notes and went to the tank to get the correct semen. Dad would follow him to the milk house, still
chatting about the things farm men talk about, as he prepared the thaw box and
his equipment. Then it was to the cows,
where the real magic happened. Again, I
didn’t fully understand what he was doing, but now that I do – I’m even more
amazed. I’m amazed that people figured
out how to mimic natural reproduction.
I’m amazed that we discovered a way to collect, package and freeze semen
so it can be shipped across the globe. And I’m amazed by the swift and expert
hands that are able to produce reliable results. No, I never became Orville, but I did try an
A.I. class once. I discovered that it is
a difficult job. I could not find the
cervix, which for those of you that know A.I. know, is pretty important. I am not giving up though. I am planning to take another class, this one
much more involved and informative.

Perhaps you dreamed of growing up to be like the “Orville”
on your farm, or maybe you would just like to add another tool to your herd
management toolbox. You are in luck, and so am I! Genex offers just the class to help you
become the A.I. Technician you always dreamed you could be.

Author Brenda Brady is our Communications Specialist. Brenda graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a degree in Agricultural Education. She went on to teach high school agriculture for 13 years. She recently joined the Cooperative Resources International team. Brenda grew up on a small Registered Holstein farm in central Wisconsin and now farms with her husband and in-laws.

Monday, June 3, 2013

"Reveal"ing Your Livestock Marking Solution

When it comes to heat detection, there are many different
products available and Genex Cooperative carries a variety. One heat detection aid that we are very
excited about is the new Reveal™ Livestock Marker, which is a
water-based, brush on tailpaint. Now,
you may be asking yourself – didn’t Genex already carry a brush on tailpaint? The answer is yes; Reveal is replacing the
paint previously marketed and the new paint is being exclusively produced and
marketed by Genex and its subsidiaries.

So what makes Reveal Livestock Marker so special?

-Made
in the USA!

-Contains
a bittering agent to deter curious pen mates from licking.

-Minimal
touch-ups needed if animal has not been ridden.

-Available
in four fluorescent colors – red, yellow, blue and green.

-Not
only a heat detection aid.

-“Reveal”
treated quarters to the next shift of milkers.

-“Reveal”
breeding dates by writing it on the animal.

-Shot
Cows? “Reveal” them with a specific
color for easily designation.

Author Katie Wolf is our Product Program Manager. She has been a member of the Genex team since 2002. Katie graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville, where she studied Agricultural Business.